Transfer skills

Rather than dropping them, incorporate them into your new position as you are learning new things. And keep accumulating skills to add to your repertoire.

The best lateral moves happen when your expertise expands to multiple areas.

Focus on contacts, not title

Exposure is valuable for your career – more valuable than the title you hold.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that having a label or designation means more than the relationships you can form and the additional skills you can acquire by moving to a new position in which you may not have a better title.

You can get ahead based on the circle of people who can vouch for your skill. Making a career move opens up a whole new set of people that you can work with, learn from and who will get to see you in action.

Communicate your skills – internally and externally

A lateral opportunity gives you the chance to add to your resume. In this way, taking a new position internally can have an impact for you externally as well.

You may not be moving “up” in position, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t just as valuable for your career.

It’s okay to toot your own horn, sometimes. Always be championing your own skills so that those who are in a position to promote you laterally are aware of your skills and your worth.

Negotiate experiences

Be intentional about asking for or creating an experience that you couldn’t get in a prior role when considering a lateral job offer. Make specific requests for activities that will allow you to acquire new skills.

For example, maybe you’d like to have more experience in managing other people but that isn’t part of your job description. Take the initiative to float some ideas to your superiors and try to get them on board with what you’d like to do.

A good move

Any change that allows you to grow and opens you up to more opportunities is a good move.

Making connections with a more diverse group of people widens your circle of contacts and increases the number of people who can attest to how well you do your job.

Having as many new experiences as possible broadens your horizons, as well. Your expanded toolbox of skills will help make you more marketable in the future.